Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Interview with Acrimonious (GR)

Tonight Lachryma Christi has for you an interview with Greek band Acrimonious. For those who do not know, Acrimonious released by the end of 2012 their second album called Sunyata through Agonia Records.

This is a very special band, since there is a great mythic concept behind it.

ar-Ra’ad al-Iblis and Cain Letifer both took part on this interesting interview.

Your facebook page says you play Typhonian Black
Metal. What do you mean by that? Is it related to the Typhonian Order?

ar-Ra’ad al-Iblis: The term is obviously foremost drawn from
the dragon Typhon mentioned among the ancient Greek myths. It more or less
represents the same aspects of the Draconian archetype (the super-cosmic and
meta-dimensional source of All) which is scattered throughout the world and
history and it symbolically stands for the nameless and boundless Power from
which our art is drawn. Concerning the
Typhonian Order, we can simply just say that we have been influenced by the
works of authors and magicians that have been connected to this current (such
as K. Grant, Nema, L. Falorio and others), in first hand personally and then
indirectly also within the art of Acrimonious. But for reasons that are not
important to discuss here, we wish not to claim fraternity to any specific
order or organisation among our members.

Can you tell a bit about the story of the band?
Why Acrimonious as a name?

Cain Letifer: It stands for the Advarsary, meaning that it
embodies the flame of Samael within our Minds. It stands for Wisdom, hardship,
trial and error, and Victory via going inwards and backwards.

There have been a few changes on the lineup. Can
you tell a bit about them?

Cain Letifer: Plenty of them. Now the band
consists of me, Ra’ad al-Iblis (that used to be in a band called Morbid
Insulter and Matricide, among others), Semjaza 218 from Thy Darkened Shade
(among others), Akhkhar that used to play the base for Acherontas, and C.Docre
that is the new drummer, who also played the drums on “Sunyata”.

What are your lyrics about? Is
there a main concept in the band?

ar-Ra’ad al-Iblis: The lyrics are prayers and chains of holy
symbols made to carve the aether with transformative fire. They are formulas of
invocations and evocations, mystical prophecy or lisan al-ghaib (The Voice from the Outer World) as the sufi would
call it, connecting the above with the below. The main concept of the band is
CHAOS.

How has the reaction of the
public been to your latest album Sunyata? Are you happy with it?

Cain Letifer: We don’t know and ultimately do not care what
others think about our music.

What have been your biggest influences along
your career? What are your favourite artists?

ar-Ra’ad al-Iblis: Guess we talk about musical influences
there. Although we all consume and are inspired by and hold dear many other
forms of art and various other genres in the world of music, I can just say
that when it comes to metal-music there are too many to mention. The list
stretches from swart bowels of Black Sabbath to the twisted hellhole of
Sarcófago, from the necrotic brilliance of Mayhem to the epic yet razor sharp
force of Judas Priest.

Any artist in particular you
would like to work with? Why?

ar-Ra’ad al-Iblis: Can’t really think of anyone
specific for the moment. But anyone who deeply shares our interests and cause
and has something of value to offer Acrimonious is a fitting individual.

Cain Letifer: There are a few individuals that we could
potentially work with, because of utmost respect for their work…but this has
nothing to do with black metal necessarily, as we respect many artists that I
am sure have not even heard of Metal at all. Yet carry that flame within, that
connects them to our Art.

As you just released your new album, Sunyata,
what is your plan for the next future?

ar-Ra’ad al-Iblis: To once again start to perform live and to spread the
thoughtless Word ever further across and beyond this world.

Any last message you would like
to leave to your followers?

ar-Ra’ad al-Iblis: Thanks for the interview.

Burn new paths into the realms of the intellect
and listen to the voice that speaks without tongue. Die before death and live
before life. Become: One and None.